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Friday, 18 May 2012

Friday Flash: All About Me

All About Me

“Are you sure you don’t want to come out?” I ask Sally one
last time.

“No, my head’s really bad. You go. Have fun, Tim,” she
replies. She comes over and gives me a hug, which is about the most she’s done
lately, and I kiss her on the cheek and wish for a fleeting second that it was
how it used to be.

There was a time, when we first lived together, she’d glance at me at any time of day or night, and give me one of those looks. It would lead to a frantic scramble up the
stairs, plenty of giggling and all that other stuff. Or sometimes we didn’t
make it up the stairs, just to the stairs, or not even beyond the
sofa. The cab driver switches off his ‘for hire’ light and I think of the light
in Sally’s eyes. The spark that isn’t there any more.

The taxi ride is mercifully quick and I meet my friends at
the bar as planned. By the end of the evening and a few too many shots,
they peel away and leave me with the sense that the night is too young
to be over just yet. I leave the bar, walk up the pedestrian street and pulses
beckon me from several doors; the thud,
thud, thud of music takes over my body and I want to dance again.
It’s been far too long.

I look down at the sharp creases in my shirt. There’s no
doubt about Sally’s ironing skills, so at least I’m dressed appropriately. As I
walk towards the welcoming doors of a club boasting a seventies night, the
bouncers don’t even speak to me, they step apart and let me through as the
sound of Dancing Queen fills the air.
I go straight to the dance floor and immerse myself in the atmosphere and the
music.

After a few songs, I'm too warm and my mouth is dry, so I head to the bar. I
order a beer and look around at the other clubbers. The air is heavy with humidity, the scent of perfume, and a sense of possibility.

I see a woman waving at me. I do a double-take as she looks
like Sally did when we first met, only this doppelganger still has the spark in
her eyes, not like the burnt out husk at home.

Before I know it I’m standing in front of her, smiling. She looks up at me and nudges her friend.

“Can I get you a drink, girls?” I ask, thinking it best to
not alienate her from the offset by ignoring her friend.

“Oh yes please, vodka and coke they say in unison.”

“Make mine a double,” Sally’s lookalike says to me, winking.

They follow me to the bar, giggling, and I wonder where this
is going to lead.

As I hand them the drinks they thank me and turn to walk
away.

“Hang on while I get mine,” I say.

The pretty one turns around. “What do you think this is, Grab A Grandad Night?” she hisses at me.
They look at each other, laugh, and make their way back to their vantage point
near the dance floor.

Suddenly sober, I leave the building and walk up to the taxi
rank. I’m never going to be a grandad. I can’t even be a father. And besides,
I’m only thirty four, surely I don’t look that old?

I let myself into the house as quietly as I can. The room’s
spinning but there’s an eerie silence so I can tell Sally’s taken herself off
to bed already. I go into the kitchen and make myself a pot of tea. Sally
always insists on a pot, and I’m in the habit of it now.

I take my drink through to the living room and settle into
my favourite chair. The house looks immaculate. Sally must have been busy when
I was out. I picture her upstairs, breathing deeply and smiling in her sleep.

It’s only when I lift the china to my lips, that I spot the envelope
on the table.

I like the very different ways in which the characters deal with the end of their relationship - I especially like the wake-up call the two girls give him in the club - but this was such a sad story - if only one of them had said something to the other, it might not have had to come to this. Great story.

Great slice of life mini drama, Rebecca. You really get inside the head of the male lead in this short. He's selfish, vain and appears to be in the midst of an early mid-life crisis.. but still we manage to empathise with both the sadness surrounding his life, and his fractured relationship with his partner. And although we don't meet her, his partner's presence is all around us as we read, making the ending all the more visceral and emotionally painful.Smart, honest and powerful writing.

Rebecca - this was an expert portrayal of a selfish man. You have us feeling sorry for this character by the end, even though his callous dismissal of Sally at home, rankles at first. Thirty four is a bit young for him to be so blissfully unaware but maybe its early midlife crisis.